The Ukrainian cabinet has denied all the allegations raised by Centragas Holding AG, a shareholder in RosUkrEnergo, in respect of transaction related to 11 billion cubic meters of gas that was carried out in early 2009, reads a cabinet statement issued on Tuesday.
"The Government of Ukraine is confident in its position and it prepared to defend it against any kind of allegations," reads the document spread in response on a Centragas’ statement of February 5 about arbitration proceedings against Ukraine under the Energy Charter Treaty based on the so-called ‘expropriation’ of 11 billion cubic meters of gas.
The document says that the Government of Ukraine values foreign investment in Ukraine, and regrets that this dispute has arisen.
"The Government of Ukraine wishes to note that public statements like the one issued by Centragas are not an appropriate way to deal with issues like this," reads the document.
"In any event the Government of Ukraine states that the matters will be dealt with fairly and justly, either in direct discussions or through the courts. Therefore, any further exchange of public statements at this time is inappropriate," the government said.
First deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Korniychuk told Interfax-Ukraine that Ukraine sent a written answer to Centragas on Tuesday.
He said that the Kyiv’s positions is that neither the Government of Ukraine nor National JSC Naftogaz Ukrainy have any relations with Centragas Company, and it is appropriate to send all claims to RosUkrEnergo AG (RUE, Switzerland).
Korniychuk confirmed that at present the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce had been hearing claims of RosUkrEnergo against Naftogaz Ukrainy regarding 11 billion cubic meters of gas.
